Door fastening



Sept. 25, 1956 J. B. MANSFIELD 2,764,439

DOOR FASTENING Filed Nov. 17, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Wfl/GZ@ Sept 25, 1956 1. B. MANSFIELD DOOR FASTENING 2 Sheets-Shea: 2

Filed NOV. 17, 1955 UnitedStates Patent DooR FASTENING James Barry Mansteld,vSelly ak,.Birmingham,.England,

l'ssignor to Wilmot-Breeden Limited, Birmingham, Eng- This i-nvention relates to door fastenings of the kind adaptedto be mounted onV a horizontally slidable door and incorporating a latch element adapted to engage a keeper or the like on a fixed part of the door surround, or on a complementary door where double sliding doors are provided.

The object of the invent-ion is to provide a door fastening of this kind in a convenient form particularly, but not exclusively suitable for use on vehicle bodies'.

A door fastening according to the invention comprises in combination a body part adapted to be mounted on the door adjacent a vertical edge, a spring loaded latch element pivotally mounted on the body part for angular movement about an axis extending transversely relative to the door, a release arm pivotally mounted on the body part and cooperating with the latch element in such a manner that angular movement of the arm in either direction Will impart a releasing movement to the latch, a lever .pivotally mounted on the body part for actuation about a vertical axis from opposite sides of the door, a vertical spindle connecting the lever with the release arm, and means for moving the spindle axially to disconnect the lever from the release anni.

An example of the invention as applied to a single sliding door of a vehicle body is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional end View of the fastening,

Figure 2 is a side vie-w as seen from the nigh-t hand side of Figure 1 with the cover and handle omitted.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Figure 1 and Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

As illustrated there is provided a body part which is adapted to be mounted on the door adjacent the vertical edge which is' to tbe fastened. This body part incorporates at the inner side of the door a mounting plate 5 which is recessed in its middle portion, and Within the recess the inner end of a latch element 6 is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis extending transversely relative to the door. This latch element is constituted by a generally horizontally extending arm provided at its free end, which extends beyond the edge of the door, with a hook-shaped nosed 6a adapted to engage a keeper or the like on a fixed part of the vehicle body under the action of a coiled spring 7 interconnected between the latch element and the body part. On the top and bottom edges of the latch element and at opposite sides of the pivot are formed integral projections 6b and 6c, the projections 6b being nearer the free end of the latch element than the other.

At the outer side of the base of the recess in the mounting plate is secured the intermediate portion of a U-shaped bracket 8 forming a portion of the body. On this bracket is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis a release arm 9 of U-shape, the limbs of which embrace the bracket and extend through slots 5a in the mounting plate `to embrace the latch element 6 adjacent its pivot. One limb is disposed adjacent the upper edge of the latch element at one side of the projection 6b, Whilst the other is disposed `adjacent the lower edge of the latch` element and at the opposite side of the projection 6c and the arrangement is such that angular movement of the release arm 9 in either direction will impart a releasing movement to the latch element against its spring loading by j the interaction of the appropriate limb and projection.

|The pivotal connection between lthe one-limb oftherelease arm 9 and the adjacent limb of the bracket 8 is effected by a short pivot pin 10, whilst the pivotal con-- nection between the other limb and the bracket is effected.

by the lower endof an axially movableand vertical spindle 11. This spindle incorporates a key 12'Which:

normally engages within a key-way formed in the asso;- ciated limb of the release arm 9, so that angular movementffofthe spindle is imparted to the arma The upper... en dlvof the spindle 11 hasa key y13-engaging a keyway. in a 'bush 14 mounted for rotation within; the intermediate part of a U-shaped bracket 15 having one limb secured to the mounting plate 5 and forming a portion of the body part.

Secured to the bush is the middle portion of a lever 16 the opposite ends of which project from the door at opposite sides, the arm of the lever at the inner side of the door extending through a slot 5b in the mounting plate. Also at both sides of the door the ends of the lever 16 are interconnected by vertically extending handles 17 with the ends of another similar and parallel lever 18 pivotally mounted upon another U-shaped bracket 19 at the lower end of the body part. The arrangement is such that manual pressure on either handle 17 in either of two opposite directions to impart a sliding movement to the door will also impart angular movement to the two parallel levers 16 and 18 which will normally impart a releasing movement to the latch element 6 through the spindle 11 and release arm 9.

At the inner side ot the door is a cover plate 20 secured to the body part and having slots through which the pair of parallel levers 16 and 18 project. These slots are formed in curved surfaces 20a having centers of curvature struck from the pivot axes of the levers, and the handle 17 is provided with complementary concave portions 17a which cover the slo-ts when the handle is in a mid-way and normal position. At the outside of the door there is a cover plate 21 through which the opposite arm-s of the levers project. ln this cover plate are mounted rubber or other resilient llets 22 in which the arms of the levers are located, the arrangement being such that angular movement of the levers' in either direction results in a compression of the resilient llets which tend to return the lever to a mid-way position.

If the spindle l1 is moved axially in au upward direction the key 12 is removed from the keyway in the arm 9. In this position the door is locked, and no strain can be imposed on the mechanism since angular movement of the parallel levers 16 and 18 can take place without the movement being imparted to the release arm 9.

For raising the `spindle there may be provided at the outside of the door a key operable barrel lock 23, and/ or manually operable locking handle (not shown) may be provided at the inner side of the door. The barrel lock and/or locking handle act upon a link 24 which at its lower end has a hook-shaped portion engaging within an aperture in an extension of the key 13 at the upper end of the spindle.

If desired the latch element 6 may be connected by a link to one or more further pivotal latch elements in superposed relationship on the door so that manual actuation of one handle Will impart a releasing movement simultaneously to a plurality of latch elements.

If desired the lever-18 could be omitted and a T or other shaped handle could be provided at each end of the lever 16. Further, where double doors are required,

Patented. Sept. 25, 1956.-y

the latchelement could be adapted to engage a keeper or the like on a complementary sliding door. It will be understood also that other Imodifications can be made in the construction of the mechanism without departing from the scope of the present invention. .y

Having thus described my linvention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A door fastening of the kind specied comprising in combination a body part adapted to be mounted on the door adjacent a vertical edge, a spring loaded latch element pivotally ymounted on the body part for angular movement about an axis extending transversely relative to the door, a release arm pivotally mounted on the body part and oo-operating with the latch element in such a manner that angular movement of the arrn in either direction will impart a releasing movement to the latch, a lever pivotally mounted on the body part for actuation about a vertical axis from opposite sides of the door, a vertical spindle connecting the lever with the release arm, and means for moving the spindle axially to disconnect the lever from the release arm.

2. A door fastening as claimed in claim l in which there is provided at one side of the body part a cover plate having a slot through which an end `of the lever projects, said slot accommodating a resilient llet in which the arm of the lever is located, the arrangement being such that angular movement of the lever in either direction will result in a compression yof the fillet which will tend to return the lever -to its initial position.

3. A door fastening as claimed in claim l in which each end of the lever is interconnected by means of a handle with an end of a similar and parallel lever pivotally mounted in the body part.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 729,980 Vordemfelde June 2, 1903 945,540 Howard Jan. 4, 1910 1,251,631 Bransford Jan. 1, 1918 2,540,686 Milburn Feb. 6, 1951 

